Easterday Farms patriarch killed in wrong-way crash in Pasco

PASCO, Wash.-- The man who grew a 300 acre farm in Mesa into an agricultural enterprise died in a wrong-way crash in Pasco Thursday afternoon.

According to the Washington State Patrol, Gale Easterday, 79, Mesa, got onto I-182 at 4th Ave. in Pasco, using the off ramp, and ended up driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of the interstate.

Troopers say the pick-up crashed head-on into a semi truck and trailer driven by Benjamin Garfias, 51, Kennewick. The semi swerved and struck a third vehicle that was also eastbound before crossing the median and ending up in the westbound lanes where two vehicles were struck by debris.

Easterday, the sole occupant in the truck he was driving, was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

According to the Easterday Farms website, Gale and his wife took over operations of the agriculture business from his father, Ervin.

Today, Gale Easterday's children continue to operate the farm, which is reported to include at least 25,000 acres of potato and onions, along with tens of thousands of heads of cattle, from Yakima to Walla Walla Counties.

WSP is still investigating the cause of the crash.